12thsept04

Greenwich Borough have a future, says Kent League secretary

THERE has been plenty of things written about Greenwich Borough recently, writes Stephen McCartney.

An emphatic 6-3 victory over Eastbourne United in the FA Cup extra preliminary round set them up with a trip to Go Travel Kent League rivals Thamesmead Town in the next round seven days later.

However, this game was never played, and the Football Association issued the following statement, a day before the game at Bayliss Avenue was due to take place.

“The Thamesmead Town vs Greenwich Borough tie will not be played this Saturday due to an investigation into the Extra Preliminary Round game played by Greenwich Borough last Saturday.

“Greenwich Borough were at home against Eastbourne United and won the tie 6-3 and may have played an ineligible or ineligible players in the game.

“This is now subject to an FA Cup investigation and a decision will be made early next week.”

Therefore, Thamesmead were without a game in the Preliminary Round on the 4^th September, but following another FA statement, Paul Blade’s side face Eastbourne United on Tuesday, after the Harrow Meadow club were thrown out of the competition.

The second FA statement issued on Friday 10^th September read: “An FA Cup Sub-Committee meeting held yesterday evening at Soho Square considered a complaint made against Greenwich Borough regarding a player that was named on the team sheet and match report form but did not play.

“As a result it was decided to remove Greenwich Borough from the competition and to re-instate Eastbourne United.

“Therefore the Preliminary Round tie, Thamesmead Town v Eastbourne United will now be played on Tuesday 14 September (7.45pm) with any possible replay on Thursday 16 September (7.45pm) with the winners then playing in the First Round Qualifying on Saturday 18 September 2004 at home versus Worthing (3.00pm).

“Greenwich Borough must provide to The FA within 7 days the name of the player that played under an assumed name and they will also be subject to any further action considered necessary by the Challenge Cup Committee.”

Last season, Greenwich’s local Kent League neighbours, Beckenham Town were left shocked at the severity of the Football Association’s punishment for fielding an ineligible player in the FA Vase.

The Eden Park Avenue outfit were fined £1,000 with £383.63 costs and were handed a five-year ban from ALL FA competitions.

Greenwich Borough’s Kent League fixture at Lordswood on Saturday was postponed but league secretary Roy Vinter insists the club still has a future in the Kent League.

He said: “The only thing we know is the same as you – they are alleged to have played an ineligible player in the FA Cup.”

And regarding the Lordswood postponement, Vinter added: “That was because they disposed of their manager and assistant manager and they needed time to sort themselves out with their manager.”

The Kent League, which has only sixteen teams competing at Premier Division level, insisted Greenwich Borough will not be the latest club to be lost.

He admitted: “We have no problem with Greenwich Borough completing their fixtures – they have a future with the Kent League.”

No-one at the Harrow Meadow club was available to comment.